Comments on: Springtime Storylines: Can Dan Duquette lead the Orioles out of the wildnerness?http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/
Baseball. Baseball. And then a bit more baseball.Sun, 02 Aug 2015 19:06:31 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.com/By: randomdigitshttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-279194
Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:11:07 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-279194The sad truth is McCourt left the dodgers in a better position then the O’s are right now.
]]>By: Chip Caray's Eyebrowshttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-279052
Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:39:56 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-279052“They could easily also crater, but no one really wants to talk about that Opening Week.”

When I read a sentence like this, it makes me wonder why you’d say the thought that a team could (operative word) be historically bad should be subject to mockery at all. If a team has to maximize every bit of its talent just to be average, I don’t know why it’s so far-fetched to believe it could have equally bad luck and go down as one of the worst ever.

]]>By: wj4122http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278908
Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:55:04 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278908There was a worst owner and his name was McCourt. But hopefully something will happen that will help restore this historic franchise! My advice get a new owner….but that is easier said then done.
]]>By: randomdigitshttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278830
Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:09:05 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278830Jake starting opening day is more about matching him up with a not good Twins team and Pavano then it is about being team “ace”. Buck would rather give him an easier first start and pitch the other guys against the Yankees.

Same level of health a #1 gets maybe 2 more starts then a #4.

]]>By: randomdigitshttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278828
Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:05:29 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278828His sons are supposed to be even worse.
]]>By: DJ MChttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278798
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:24:51 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278798That depends on your definition of competitive. This team can easily end the season with 74-75 wins and enough answers to questions to make offseason moves with the goal of fielding a contender next season. They could also finish in the mid-60s and be ready to sell off everyone but Wieters and start again. But at least there’s a better chance of the former result than the latter this season than in past years.
]]>By: DJ MChttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278791
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:17:49 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278791No. Peter Angelos is a terrible owner of a baseball team. Donald Sterling is a terrible human being who is also a terrible owner.

There is a huge difference.

]]>By: going4iton4thhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278785
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 21:53:26 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278785I’ll just echo everyone’s opinion on here and throw in how much you have to feel for Orioles fans. I mean They are excellent and loyal fans—Peter Angelos makes Donald Sterling look like Jerry Buss. When was the last time the Oriole farm system produced a good top of the rotation starter?
]]>By: APBA Guyhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278736
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 20:16:41 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278736I have to disagree with you thinman. There is NO hope as long as Angelos is the owner.
]]>By: DJ MChttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278723
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:55:26 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278723Yes. To the point of open mockery.

The Orioles saw their worst-case scenario last season with the pitching, but managed to have a league-average offense despite missing Luke Scott and Brian Roberts for most of the season and getting nothing from Vlad Guerrero and Derrek Lee. They won 69 games.

To be historically bad (say, 105 losses or more) they would need a second complete failure from the pitching staff and a complete failure from the offense. Essentially, the 2001 club (which was 13th in runs scored and ninth in runs allowed and lost 63 games), only worse.

The pitching on this team isn’t going to be as bad as seems on the surface. Arrieta had a better spring than his ERA suggests. Matusz can be bad and still better than last year (and he looks like he’s on his way back to his 2010 level, at least). Chen and Wada are unknowns in America with really good numbers in Japan. Hammel is another Guthrie. Hunter is talented and appears to be at worst an innings-eater. Even Chris Tillman will be waiting in AAA looking like he has turned the corner back into a prospect.

This group certainly won’t be great, but they can be average as a group with some breakout performances. They could easily also crater, but no one really wants to talk about that Opening Week.

]]>By: Chip Caray's Eyebrowshttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278695
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:55:54 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278695Would I be overdramatic to assert this team could be historically bad?
]]>By: bmoreballershttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278682
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:37:19 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278682Manny machado Isn’t as good as this post makes him out to be
]]>By: baseballisboringhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278666
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:13:57 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278666According to him, it’s he day he dies…ugh
]]>By: Loose Changeuphttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278664
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:12:05 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278664Not one mention of Brian Roberts shooting for “Comeback Player of the Year.”

Your argument is invalid.

]]>By: drewsylvaniahttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278650
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:49:08 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278650That’s a lot of ifs. The team might be competitive in, say, the NL Central, but not in the AL East.
]]>By: rockthered1286http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278640
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:36:22 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278640So we’re going to declare that Angelos is impatient? Seriously? Not the fact that he’s indecisive, takes zero initiative in FA or hiring new personel (waited until weeks into FA to bring Duquette on board) refuses to even consider upgrading any position on this team, and quite frankly is stuck in the 1990’s payscale mentality where’s he refuses to do anything but low ball offers to players so that he can say to the O’s fans “see? I tried!” If there is ONE issue with this team is Angelos. He is by far the most hated man in the Baltimore area. I truly don’t believe there is a single person in this area who can even tolerate Angelos. Hell, even the homeless around the stadium with their change cups hate him as they continue to see contributions decrease with the drop in attendance.

That being said, I love what Weiters is becoming, Jones still has upside to grow, Markakis is make or break this year, Reynolds will be better this year no doubt (lost weight and last year was an outlier in his poor D) and with a healthier Arrieta and Matusz, I’m thinking we’ll be right around last years numbers, if not a few games above it. There’s a lot more fight in this team than years past, and I think it’ll show.

]]>By: drewsylvaniahttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278631
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:31:54 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278631Actually, Angelos has had no problem spending in the past. It’s who he spends on that’s the problem.
]]>By: dowhatifeellikehttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278614
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:19:10 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278614Duquette will have the freedom to do whatever he wants, as long as it doesn’t cost more. So, nothing.
]]>By: drewsylvaniahttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278599
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:57:00 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278599Even if it were possible for Dan Duquette to lead this team out of the wilderness, Angelos wouldn’t let him.
]]>By: Baseball Beer Burritos In That Orderhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278595
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:53:19 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278595Is Dan Duquette filing paperwork with the league office to get them out of the AL East? If so, maybe.
]]>By: mybrunobloghttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278591
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:49:49 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278591Peter Angelo’s has single handedly destroyed the Orioles franchise. IS there a worse owner in baseball? O’s fans just need to wait for the day he unloads the team.
]]>By: thinman61http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278590
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:49:40 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278590Not much hope for the Orioles as long as Angelos is the owner.
]]>By: Old Gatorhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/03/springtime-storylines-can-dan-duquette-lead-the-orioles-out-of-the-wildnerness/comment-page-1/#comment-278583
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:40:19 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=135292#comment-278583No.

But having said that, let me put in a plug for the new Cowboy Junkies CD, The Wilderness, out of which there is no sustainable aesthetic reason to want to be led.